Property analyst:‘Clark will be the new Cebu’

CEBU, Philippines — While Cebu offers a promising outlook for real estate development in the long term, Clark in Pampanga is becoming the next playground for big and small developers.

“Clark will be the new Cebu,” said property analyst David Leechiu in his recent visit to Cebu.

Leechiu urged Cebuano developers to start looking at Clark if they are pursuing outside of Cebu expansion. Clark he reiterated offers promising future for real estate.

He said a property development in Clark would complement Cebu in terms of attracting buyers and investor tenants.

Presently, Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City hosts a number of BPO companies, while Angeles City itself and the rest of Pampanga boast shopping malls and lifestyle centers, condo projects, resorts and hotels, and many residential subdivisions, from the affordable to high-end.

Comprised of 22 cities and municipalities, Pampanga is one of Central Luzon’s key provinces. It is an economic powerhouse, boasting a large population base (2.34 million as of the 2010 Census) and thriving cottage and manufacturing industries.

It is also one of Metro Manila’s largest supplier of agricultural produce, from prawns and tilapia to rice, sugar cane, and maize.

Aside from their rich culinary traditions, public infrastructure is also a source of pride among Kapampangans (the province’s native inhabitants).

Two major expressways traverse the province (North Luzon Expressway and Subic–Clark Expressway), making travel between Pampanga’s towns and cities and to surrounding provinces and Metro Manila very easy.

It is also home to the Clark International Airport, the Philippines’ 9th busiest in terms of number of passengers and considered a secondary airport serving Metro Manila.